A recent study from brand builder Business Name Generator reveals that 84% of both employees and managers agree that soft skills are indispensable for new hires.
With thousands of competitive resumes flooding the job market, technical skills alone are no longer enough to secure a dream job. In 2024, the decision between two qualified applicants can hinge on their people skills.
Soft Skills Are Essential for Career Growth
In spite the rise of automation and remote work, soft skills are a significant deciding factor in professional success. Following a poll of 1,015 U.S. employees and employers across 12 industries, 71% of those surveyed believe soft skills will not face obsolescence but be just as, or even more important than technical skills in the future.
“The introduction of new technologies like AI has catalyzed the shift in demand for specific skills, requiring employees to deepen their existing skill sets or acquire new ones,” says Katrina Haggerty, a Business Name Generator spokesperson.
She adds, “Many of these will be soft skills, the personal attributes and non-technical skills that describe how people work and interact with others.”
Potential job candidates must reprioritize their soft skills during the hiring process. More than one-fifth of respondents believe such attributes sway hiring decisions. Employees believe managers evaluate soft skills to decide between otherwise similar profiles.
Sought-After Soft Skills
Around 25% of respondents rank communication skills at the top of their must-have soft skills list. The ability to problem solve came in a close second, followed by time management.
Priorities differ slightly along gender lines: more women rated communication skills higher, whereas most men placed problem-solving first.
Soft skills are indispensable to professional growth. New hires should work on their communication and problem-solving skills. However, the results suggest that existing employees should focus on a different essential skill. 21% of survey respondents point to leadership as the key to success for current workers aspiring to career development.
Employees and Employers Invest in Soft Skills
Technology’s multi-industry implementation only stresses the need to rehumanize workplaces — even in the tech industry itself. Soft skills are not a fad.
A Pearson survey conducted in partnership with Google in 2023 found workers in the U.S., U.K., India, and Brazil honing human skills ahead of an increasingly tech-centric future.
The Pearson Skills Outlook: Employee View surveyed 4,000 workers across several markets. Their findings show that professionals in numerous industries, even those that lean into or create tech, are investing in their soft skills.
In the United States, tech employees focus on two human skills to propel their careers: problem-solving and decision-making. Industries like e-commerce, software services, and data science require these skills when navigating the complexities of an ever-changing job market.
Additionally, employees also cultivate leadership abilities, entrepreneurial skills, and project management mastering.
“[J]ob seekers are prioritizing human skills at a time when machine learning and artificial intelligence are having an increasing influence on work,” said Mike Howells, president of Pearson Workforce Skills.
“Human skills are proving critical to personal and organizational success, and workers are motivated to sharpen and develop those skills to stay competitive and advance their careers.”
Employees are not just investing in themselves; companies report the tangible benefits of investing in their employees.
A 2023 Fossicker Group and New Level Work report found that every dollar companies invest in leadership training generates an estimated $7.00 return in revenue and sales. Companies must promote and prioritize soft skill development amid rapidly automating industries.
“Countless qualitative studies have shown that the benefits of leadership development ripple out across the entire organization,” wrote John Topping in a statement, president and COO of New Level Work (formerly BetterManager).
Practice the Soft Skills Most Employers Want
When considering which soft skills are most in demand, employers cite communication, leadership, attention to detail, customer service, and collaboration, among others. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor suggests some skills over others:
- Networking — Job hunting and networking remain inextricably linked. Find employment opportunities by reaching out to new and existing professional contacts.
- Enthusiasm — Show interest before and after the hiring process. Ask questions and stay engaged during the interview. Take the initiative once hired.
- Teamwork — Collaboration requires each member to understand their role within the team. Distribute the workload effectively and take the opportunity to strengthen interpersonal bonds.
- Professionalism — Dress appropriately, be punctual, maintain productivity, and connect with colleagues, supervisors, and clients.
- Problem Solving — Think critically when facing problems. Utilize existing knowledge and context cues. Prioritize developing thoughtful solutions instead of low-quality quick fixes.
- Communication Skills — Communicate effectively by contributing to discussions thoughtfully and by reading rooms and utilizing the right moment. Proactively communicate with supervisors and colleagues by asking questions and verifying information.
“Growing companies are looking to recruit staff with in-demand skills to ensure they address their changing business needs,” writes Haggarty. “Even though there is talk of AI and automation taking over jobs, the study goes to show that human skills are still invaluable in the eyes of employers.”
